Carrier for outboard motors



Oct. 17, 1961 J. w. KL,AGES 3,004,768

CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Original Filed Aug. 13, 1958 INVENTOR 2| JOHN W. KLAGES ATTORNEY? I United States Patent a 3,004,768 Patented Oct. 17,1961

3,004,768 CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS John W. Klages, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The C0- lumbus Auto Parts Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Orig nal application Aug. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 754,817. Divided and this application Nov. 24, 1959, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 280-4724) This invention relates to a carrier for outboard motors. This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 754,817, filed August 13, 1958.

In general the apparatus of the present invention consists of a main frame portion which includes a forwardly extending toe portion, a heel portion having attached wheels, a vertically extending portion, and a forwardly extending motor supporting portion. All of the portions of the main frame are formed by bending a single tubular member in a novel manner.

The apparatus of the present invention further includes a novel handle means which is mounted to the previously mentioned tubular main frame portion so as to be selectively disposable in an operational configuration wherem the carrier and a motor supported thereon can be pushed along in the manner of a wheelbarrow. The handle means can also be selectively disposed in a storage positron merely by the operators releasing his grip on the handle means which subsequently swings downwardly by the action of gravity to the aforesaid storage position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provlde a carrier for an outboard motor which comprises a main frame having an upright portion, a toe portion, and a motor supporting portion all of which portions are formed by bending a single tubular member in a novel manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a carrier for an outboard motor which includes a novel handle means that can be selectively disposed in either an operational configuration or a storage configuration.

Funther objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a carrier for an outboard motor constructed according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the carrier of FIG. 1 with the handle means thereof disposed in a storage configuration.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention. The carrier comprises a main frame 20 which includes a toe portion 15 formed by bending the central portion of the tubular members so as to include lengths 23--25. A pair of upright lengths 21 and 22 connect toe portion 15 with the motor supporting lengths 26 and 27.

A pair of wheels 30 are mounted to frame 20 at the junction of toe portion 15 and upright members 21 and 22 by means of tubular members 28 which are welded to the main frame portion.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, a lateral tubular member 31 and a pair of braces 44 are welded to the main frame to add rigidity thereto.

Referring to the upper portion of the carrier, the frame structure includes two forwardly extending motor support portions 26 and 27, each of which has welded to it a tubular member 61 and 60, respectively, which forms a socket for removably receiving the forward ends of handle I members 55A and 55B, Theseihandle members are retained in the operational configuration of FIG. 1 by a pair of resilient handle braces 40A and 40B. Each of the resilient handle braces includes a lower half collar 42 weldedutq'upright lengths 21 o 22 and an -open half collar 43 which detachably engages a section 58 of a handle member 55A or 55B when said handle member is in the operational configuration of FIG. 1.

It should be pointed out that handles 55A and 55B are retained in the downwardly extending storage configuration of FIG. 2 by frictional engagement with the lower ends of braces 40A and 40B.

In operation, when a carrier is in the storage configuration of FIG. 2 wherein its handle is extending downwardly along upright length 21 and 22 it will be noted that the carrier is comparatively compact which facilitates transporting same in a compartment of limited size.

In operation, when the carrier is to be used the handle is swung upwardly to a position wherein handles 55A and 55B are moved into latched engagement with upper half collars 43 of resilient handle braces 40A and 40B. Outboard motor 65 is next rested on forwardly extending portions 26 and 27. If desired, a safety strap is next fastened around lower casing portion or drive shaft of the motor, not illustrated, to secure same to upright lengths 21 or 22.

When it is desired to push the carrier along a supporting surface, the handles are grasped and the carrier and motor are tilted rearwardly to a position wherein toe portion 15 is raised above the supporting surface and the center of gravity of the motor and carrier is disposed above the axes of rotation of the wheels. The carrier can then be moved about as desired in a balanced configuration and, when desired, can be laid back at rest on the wheels and ends of the handles.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A carrier for an outboard motor comprising in combination, frame means including a toe portion, spaced tubular frame port-ions forming forwardly extending motor support portions; a first socket means mounted on one side of the upper portion of said frame means; a second socket means mounted on the other side of the upper portion of said frame means; a first tubular handle portion rotatably carried in said first socket means; a second tubular handle portion rotatably carried in said second socket means; and means for selectively securing each of said handle portions in a rearwardly extending configuration and in a downwardly extending configuration, said means including a brace secured at one end to one of said tubular portions and provided with a concave other end for detachable spring pressed engagement with the other of said tubular portions.

2. A carrier for an outboard motor comprising, in combination, frame means including a toe portion, an upright portion, and spaced forwardly extending motor support portions; a first socket means mounted on one side of the upper portion of said frame means; a second socket means mounted on the other side of the upper portion of said frame means; a first handle portion including a first length insertable in said first socket, a second length extending laterally on one side of said frame means, and a third length extending rearwardly of said frame means; a second handle portion including a first length insertable in said first socket, a second length extending laterally on the other side of said frame means, and a third length extending rearwardly of said frame means; a first brace member including a first connection with said second length of said first handle portion and a second connection with said one side of said frame, certain of said connecttions being detachable; and a second brace member in cluding a first connection with said second handle portion and a second connection with the other side of said frame, GertaiII of said connections being detachable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tunstead Nov. 30, 1954 

